A thorough account of the nature and consequences of ionizing radiation at the physical, biological, and medical levels. This work also covers the origins of radioactive waste in nations worldwide and the present policies adopted by many nations for their processing, storage, and disposal. The initial coverage of the scientific aspects of radioactive waste at several levels allows readers to fully consider the feasibility of the options adopted in other nations and to consider safer and more cost-effective alternatives. Includes appendixes of physical constants, conversion factors, and radioactivity of the nuclides.